Astros' Corbin Martin participates in rookie tradition at...

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Houston Astros starting pitcher Corbin Martin (29) pitches during the top second inning against the Texas Rangers at Minute Maid Park on Sunday, May 12, 2019, in Houston.
Browse through the photos to see how the Astros have fared in each game this season.Photo: Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

15of163April 12: Astros 10, Mariners 6
Record: 9-5
Houston Chronicle's Player of the GameJose Altuve & Yuli Gurriel
The Astros hit two grand slams in a game for the third time in franchise history.Photo: Ted S. Warren/Associated Press

BOSTON — While rain pelted Fenway Park and Houston's most veteran arm tossed casually in left field, Corbin Martin emerged from the Astros dugout for a time-honored rookie ritual.

A Red Sox clubhouse attendant guided the 23-year-old righthander inside the green monster, where Martin signed his name on the concrete wall alongside thousands of players, patrons and assorted baseball people. Justin Verlander beaned the out-of-town scoreboard with a baseball just as Martin entered, flashing a thumbs up and wide smile when the rookie was startled.

While rain pelted Fenway Park and Houston’s most veteran arm tossed casually in left field, Corbin Martin emerged from the Astros dugout for a time-honored rookie ritual.

Video: Chandler Rome, Houston Chronicle

Any pomp or circumstance will cease Saturday when Martin makes his second major league start against the defending World Series champion Red Sox inside this hallowed ballpark, one not totally unfamiliar to the former Cy Ranch standout and Texas A&M hurler.

While he played in the Cape Cod summer league in 2016, Martin visited Fenway Park and participated in a workout day. He signed the out-of-town scoreboard that day, too, but obviously acknowledged Friday's signature carried more significance.

This occasion notwithstanding, a whirlwind week has slowed considerably for Martin, who struck out nine and allowed one run against the Rangers during his Mother's Day major league debut.

"I'm getting used to being here, the routines, the schedules and realizing it's the game I've been playing since I was young," Martin said. "These guys have definitely helped to calm things down."

Martin's mother, sister and stepfather will travel to Boston for Saturday's start, he said, though far less nerves will accompany his first pitch before them.

"That was the first time I've ever been like that before a game, and that was a special one," Martin said of his major league debut.

"But the nerves have definitely calmed down and now moving forward I think it'll be less and less nerve-wracking every time I pitch, the more comfortable I get."

Chandler Rome joined the Houston Chronicle in 2018 to cover the Astros after spending one year in Tuscaloosa covering Alabama football — during which Nick Saban asked if he attended college. He did, at LSU, where he covered the Tigers baseball team for nearly four years. He covered most of the Astros' 2015 playoff run, too, as an intern for MLB.com

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